TRANMERE’S credentials as League One leaders will be given the toughest test of the season so far in front of the live TV cameras at Prenton Park tonight, manager Ronnie Moore believes.

TRANMERE’S credentials as League One leaders will be given the toughest test of the season so far in front of the live TV cameras at Prenton Park tonight, manager Ronnie Moore believes.

Moore rates visitors MK Dons, managed by former Liverpool Academy coach Karl Robinson, as the most accomplished footballing side in League One and expects them to be strong contenders to secure promotion at the end of the season.

“This is probably the biggest game of the season so far,” Moore said. “It is another TV game and another chance to show people around the country why we are top – against the best footballing side at this level and maybe above.

“MK Dons are a top side. If we finish a point behind them at the end of the season, we won’t be too far from going up.”

Rovers can extend their lead at the top of the table to eight points by winning tonight and stretch out the advantage over seventh placed MK Dons to 11 points. The division’s second and third placed teams, Sheffield United and Stevenage, meet each other tomorrow.

However, Tranmere go into the game with a depleted squad. While they were reeling off three successive away wins at Hartlepool (2-0) and Oldham Athletic (1-0) in the league and at Braintree Town (3-0) in the FA Cup on Tuesday night, the injuries piled up.

Moore says centre-back Ash Taylor (hamstring) and wide midfielder Joe Thompson (thigh), who limped out of the Braintree game, won’t play tonight. Nor will Adam McGurk or Abdulai Bell-Baggie. Nathan Ecclestone has spent most of his loan period from Blackpool back at Bloomfield Road, receiving treatment for a hamstring injury sustained in his one Rovers appearance against Preston North End.

“We are down to the bare bones of the squad and we may struggle to get the full number of subs,” Moore said. “But I don’t want to get the violin out and have people crying for us. We have to get on with it.

“We will get a side out that will be competitive and I would like to think that any XI we put out will give it their all. We have a smashing bunch of lads with good character.”

Veteran centre-back Ian Goodison is likely to start a game for the first time in place of Taylor.

On the plus side Tranmere will be able to call on 10-goal leading scorer Jake Cassidy and midfielder Liam Palmer, both of whom missed the Braintree game because their parent clubs, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Sheffield Wednesday, declined permission for them to play in the FA Cup.

Moore also has the option of retaining Cole Stockton in his attack after the 18-year-old turned in an impressive display on Tuesday, scoring one of Rovers goals and setting up the other two for Thompson and Max Power.

Moore said: “Cole did himself no harm on Tuesday. He is a young lad and no one really knows how far he can go in the game. He is still learning his trade. He needs to know where to run and when to run.

“It is alright playing with kids of the same age but it is different when you are playing in the Misters league.

“To be fair, he roughed up Braintree’s two centre-backs on Tuesday. If he can keep that going it will be terrific. We know he has played well against a non-League side but can he do it against a good professional side like MK Dons?

“You don’t know until you throw him in and see. Mentality-wise there isn’t a problem. All the players here are brought up in the right way.

“The question will be about ability more than anything.”

Moore added: “Cole is not a Billy Big-Time. He is a very quiet lad. He might become the quiet assassin type for us.”

With Cassidy returning to the attack, Moore may well be left to choose between Stockton and Jake Jervis for the second striking role.

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